Former Tampa soccer player Nicole Murphy killed in South Africa

Nicole Murphy was a four-year starter for the University of Tampa women’s soccer team.

Nicole Murphy, a four-year starter for the University of Tampa women's soccer team and a member of the 2007 Division II national championship team, was killed when she was hit by a car in South Africa on Tuesday while attending the World Cup with her family, the school said.

Murphy, 24, and two of her three siblings were hit, said KATC-TV in Lafayette, La., her hometown. Her brother Brian was in critical condition but expected to recover, the station said. No information on the other sibling was available.

Her family said the driver of the car was apprehended. No details of the accident were available.

Murphy graduated from UT magna cum laude in May 2008 and was entering her third year of medical school at LSU New Orleans.

"Nicole, we miss you already, and the love for you out there in the community is massive," UT coach Gerry Lucey said.

There is a reason why the air in Tampa Bay is filled with playoff talk. If Thursday night's 12-8 Bucs preseason win over the Jaguars is any indication, it's also going to be filled with footballs thrown by quarterback Jameis Winston.